Taisto Ilmari KANGASNIEMI

After World War II, Taisto Kangasniemi was considered the best Finnish heavyweight wrestler for nearly two decades. Thought of as more a Greco-Roman wrestler, he represented his country internationally at both styles, although his only major international tournament medal, bronze at the 1956 Olympics, came in freestyle. In Greco-Roman, he competed at the 1948, 1956 and 1964 Olympics and 1953 World championships, his best finishes being fourth in 1948 and 1953. In freestyle, he competed at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics and 1954 World Championships and, in addition to his 1956 bronze, was sixth in 1952 and 1954. Domestically, Kangasniemi captured eight Finnish titles: in 1950-51, 1953, 1955, and 1962-63 in Greco-Roman and in 1953-54 in freestyle. He also earned 11 Finnish Workers' Sports Federation championships titles: in 1952-54, 1956, 1959-60 and 1962-64 in Greco-Roman and in 1955 and 1959 in freestyle. Later, Kangasniemi was the president and honorary president of Tampereen Painiseura, a wrestling club he helped found.